CWP No.6776 of 2026 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No.6776 of 2026 Date of Decision: 27.03.2026 Akshada Deshpande and others ….Petitioners vs. Union of India and others ….Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL Present: Ms. Sanya Thakur, Advocate Mr. Veer Singh, Advocate for the petitioners Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India (through VC) with Ms. Saigeeta Srivastava, Advocate for respondent-UOI Mr. Akshay Kumar Goel, Advocate for respondent No.3 *** JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (ORAL) 1. On 07.03.2026, the following order was passed:- “ Learned Senior counsel for the petitioners submits that petitioners are students of Chandigarh University, Mohali and they participated in 39th AIU North Zone Youth Festival, 2025-26, which was organized by Association of Indian Universities (AIU) – respondent No.3 at Chitkara University, Rajpura from 06.01.2026 to 10.01.2026 and secured third position in “One Act Play”. He asserts that petitioners were awarded medals at the Valedictory Ceremony, which was held on 10.01.2026. Reference has been made by learned Senior counsel to the photograph, Annexure P2, as well as the video PARAMJIT KAUR SAINI 2026.03.27 02:37 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP No.6776 of 2026 -2- recording of the Valedictory Ceremony, Annexure P3. Counsel states that to the surprise of the petitioners, result, Annexure P1, which was uploaded on the website of AIU shows that petitioners have secured a fourth position and there is a tie with two other contestants for that position. He submits that Chandigarh University immediately sent communication dated 28.02.2026, Annexure P5, which was followed by an email sent on 02.03.2026, Annexure P6. He submits that vide electronic response, AIU informed that there was an inadvertent error in the declaration of result and petitioners were wrongly declared as having secured the third position instead of fourth position. He states that AIU has further stated that the error was rectified on the stage during the event itself. Counsel asserts that no such change was ever announced and in fact the medals, which were awarded to petitioners are still with them. Counsel submits that petitioners have been preparing for the 39th AIU Inter- University National Youth Festival (UNIFEST) 2025-26, which is to be held at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai from 10.03.2026 to 14.03.2026 and online announcement has come as a surprise to them. Counsel has placed reliance upon the observations of a Division Bench of this Court in Abhimanyu Tewari Versus Union of India and others (CWP-9157-2010, decided on 18.09.2012) to assert that AIU is getting financial aid from the Government of India and would fall within the ambit of “State” within Article 12 of the Constitution of India. He emphasis that a writ petition is maintainable against AIU. Issue notice of motion to the respondents. Ms. Saigeeta Srivastava, Advocate, who is assisting Mr. Satya Pal Jain, learned Senior counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondents No.1 and 2. PARAMJIT KAUR SAINI 2026.03.27 02:37 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP No.6776 of 2026 -3- Mr. Akshay Kumar Goel, Advocate has put in appearance on behalf of respondent No.3 and has filed memo of appearance, which is taken on record. Counsel for respondent No.3 has produced a xerox copy of the Result Declaration Sheet to assert that petitioners secured a total marks of 234 and they ranked fourth in the “One Act Play” competition held in January, 2026. He, however, could not dispute that medals were awarded to the petitioners for the third position, which are still with them. He concedes that there was a mix-up in the names at the time of announcement of the result and error was corrected on the spot after the conclusion of the event. Respondent No.4 be served for 07.04.2026. In the meanwhile, petitioners are permitted to participate in the 39th AIU Inter-University National Youth Festival (UNIFEST) 2025-26. The result of the event shall, however, not be declared at the spot and will be produced before this Court in a sealed cover on the next date of hearing.” 2. Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks permission to withdraw the petition. 3. Dismissed as withdrawn. 4. In view of withdrawal of petition, interim arrangement stands vacated. (JAGMOHAN BANSAL) JUDGE 27.03.2026 paramjit Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes Whether reportable: No PARAMJIT KAUR SAINI 2026.03.27 02:37 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document